The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-01-26
rlIE STATE. AND TIE FARMERS.
WHAT THE DEPARTMENT. e. Nt'i;i
CU!gUi;E Is DOIN&.

CUlgUi:E Is DoiS;'.
Am Interview viii, Coran-irsioner HHtier-
What He says -tbo"t ~ HecSn;--> :;;','''
Lon His Department
T.c-, ;ha News an: Ce:rir'.)
Co1rMElA, January 1s.-Co;onei y. Z
Butler has been the commissioner Of
agriculture CT Soath Carolina ever $lne>
his department began It's work, seven
yeas ago. He is thoroughly devoted =
it and, OF course, knows all It's details
and shares all its aspirations. IN We"
Of the confusion which exists III tie nub-
lie mind as to The duties, :sc.8 and rc-
sources OF the department, anc. the
criticisms which have been made upon
its management, the News and Courier
Bureau has secured al interview with
Commissioner Butler, enabling him to
summarize the situation from lis stand
point. The fever of the ssT;llnan move
men" has a5ated, AID the people OF the
STATE should be able to consider calmly
and justly the valaa5le work OF the de-
partment, and give It TIE credit to which
it is entitled. Nearly a year VIII elapse
before the Legislature can meet again,
and in the meantime there is plenty OF
time for discussion ana no excuse for
s'snap judgments on any department OF
the State Government.
To the question, Glow Las the De-
partment OF Agriculture been affected by
the attacks upon it?' Colo2cl Hutler re
piled:
in my opinion the department is
stronger to-day than at any time since
its establishment in 1879. It WAS evident
to the board and myself some tine be-
fore the first articles again st tue depart
ment appeared IN the newspapers that It's
work was not fully understood by the
people, but we were at a loss to know
what more than had been done could be
done properly to show the important
duties Of the department and COW they
had been discharged. We had submitted
annual reports OF our work to the Legis-
lature at every session, and published
monthly reports during theye&r, besides
conducting an extensive correspondence;
but we realized that something more was
necessaryto enhst the enthusiastic sup
port of all the farmers IL the work.
Well, while We Were considering the
matter al article appeared which bitter
~ assailed the management of the de-
partment, andin sIch q manner that Il
al once attracted the attention. of our
people ard turned their eyes .inon Us.
You will see that this was exactly what
We wanted. 1t was the opportunity that
we desired, and you vii remember that
I handed yen a reply to tlc criticism
within four hours after the news and
Courier containing the criticism reached
Columbia. Your readers are familiar
with the controversy that followed. On
my part I can say that 1t was conducted
without the least personal bitterness,
hecaUse IN the first pi&ce It vas exactly
What wanted, and, in the secoad place,
T felt that the result would be& vlndica-
ton of tie department. and ma he 1t
stronger with the epeQple, as ii has done.
s.Why do you think that this has been
the result?"
ssWell, You viii remember tl2au the
FIRST criticism appeared during the ses-
sion 10 November aud December, 1850,
and while the controversy WIS at its
height and bitterness the members OF the
board were unanimously reelected and l
was reelected commissioner. The con-
troversy, therefore. did not lessen the
confidence % the Legislature IN the
management OF the department.. At the
same session the economic caucus, as 1t
was called, appointed CONN ittee to IL
vestigate the department. The commit
tee submitted report which completely
refuted all the charges of extrayagance,
Inisn,anagement, &c., that had been
made. The light WAS continued alo2g
in the spring, 'apd among other charges
made vas that in regard to the inaugura-
ton and conduct Of thepaosphate hsiga.
tion. The Farmers Convention met and
appointed committee to investigate the
matter. and tie result was thorough
yindication OF the department by this
body OF farmers. Some people, how
ever, were not satisfied, and they con-
tinued the &eitation, greatly to the bene-
st Of the department. The more they
said. tie more the people became inter
essed il the work, ana, as they BECAME
familiar with it, the mole :lnAlUus they
we're that it should be sustained, You
will remember also. that when the agita-
ton began IL: 1885 Senator u PRODUCED
a biu to abolish the department. Before
the session was over Jhe biz was killed
en- tie motion Of the Senator who intro
ducedit, and he has recently declared N
the public prints that he wouid strenu-
ously oppose an reorganiz;ttica OF the
department. There now. 50 Tar as i
an aware, 10 man y the State who
1ould advocate tie abolition OF the de
partment. The public are familiar Wit!
the efforts made 3; the recent session t"
reorganize the department and the t;eil-
ure Of the bill. l may be mistaken as 10
the cause, but I tpilk its iaiiure Was due
to the fact that tie Senate was satisfied
with the management OF the department
and believed that the passage OF the biz
would Do considered az e0IorseneaS OF
the charges ot i;.eticiency that had been
made against the present beard and 50
refused to pass It.
CHOW do You explain tie large vote
that this bin received il the House,
ssEasily enough. With q few cx-
sstious, Ill OF the CID Helnbers OF the
Eon,e VINO lad been returned were law
vers. They naturally oAicctae;io :e:tti-